Lipid metabolism: ursodeoxycholic acid: practice question

A Biochemistry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Biochemistry · Lipid metabolism: ursodeoxycholic acid

Sample item

A frail 70-year-old woman with small radiolucent cholesterol gallstones and mild symptoms refuses surgery. Which bile acid is given orally to dissolve the stones?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ursodeoxycholic acid

Ursodeoxycholic acid is a hydrophilic bile acid that reduces cholesterol secretion into bile and intestinal absorption, lowering biliary cholesterol saturation. Over months it can dissolve small cholesterol stones, though recurrence is common after stopping.

Option by option

  • A. Ursodeoxycholic acid (correct)

    Correct. Ursodeoxycholic acid lowers cholesterol saturation of bile and dissolves small cholesterol stones.

  • B. Taurocholic acid

    Taurocholic acid is the taurine conjugate of cholic acid and is not used to dissolve stones.

  • C. Cholic acid

    Cholic acid is a primary bile acid and does not dissolve gallstones.

  • D. Lithocholic acid

    Lithocholic acid is a hepatotoxic secondary bile acid made by bacteria and is not used therapeutically.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Biochemistry question

What is the answer to this Biochemistry question?

The best answer is A, Ursodeoxycholic acid. Ursodeoxycholic acid is a hydrophilic bile acid that reduces cholesterol secretion into bile and intestinal absorption, lowering biliary cholesterol saturation.

Why is "Taurocholic acid" not the answer?

Taurocholic acid is the taurine conjugate of cholic acid and is not used to dissolve stones.

Why is "Cholic acid" not the answer?

Cholic acid is a primary bile acid and does not dissolve gallstones.

Why is "Lithocholic acid" not the answer?

Lithocholic acid is a hepatotoxic secondary bile acid made by bacteria and is not used therapeutically.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lipid metabolism: ursodeoxycholic acid in Biochemistry. Over months it can dissolve small cholesterol stones, though recurrence is common after stopping.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Lipid metabolism: ursodeoxycholic acid?

Build one table of enzyme deficiency, disease, inheritance and key finding, then revise it by spaced recall. Then use the flashcards and the other Biochemistry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.